Improvement in grates



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LUCIEN M. OHIPLEY, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

IMPROVEMENTIN GRATES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 154,219, dated August 18, 1874; application filed January 30, 1874.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LUorErtM. CHIPLEY, of St. Louis, Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Grates, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

The invention relates to an improved grate, and is applicable to grates, stoves, furnaces, and other analogous devices. It consists in providing a grate of usual construction, but placed so. that the ends of its lower bars reach about to the center of the fire-place, with a grate having its lower bars inclined and projecting above and slightly beyond the rear ends of the lower bars of the front grate.

The invention is placed in rear of the grate, and is affixed at its rear to a rod traversing the chimney, and secured thereto in such man: ner as to be capable of a lateral or rocking movement. This rod extends through one side of the chimney, its outer extremity being connected with a lever in such manner that the lever can be moved backward or forward. The front part of the lever projects beyond the front of the chimney, and passes through a T- shaped aperture in a plate projecting from the side of the chimneyand placed in aproper position. Thus, when the lever is in the vertical portion of the aperture, it is capable of a corresponding movement, thereby communi-- eating a rocking movement to the grate secured to the rod; whereas, when the lever is in the transverseportion of the aperture it can be moved laterally, thus communicating a corresponding movement to the grate.

The object of the invention is to provide a means of rapidly and efficiently dumping or sifting thecontents of a grate.

Figure 1 is a front view of a device embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the same. Figs. 3, 4, 5, and 6 are views of separate parts. I

.A in the accompanying drawings is a grate of usual construction, and placed in the usual position above the hearth. The bars a, however, terminate in a line nearly in the plane of the longitudinal vertical center of the fireplace. B is a grate provided, in the present instance, with a solid back, its lower bars b corresponding, as to their side vertical planes,

rigidly to the back of .the upper part of the grate B, being attached in the slots 00 to the chimney by the staples d, or in any other suitable manner, so that it can be moved laterally, rocked, or rotated. The rear end of the lever F is reduced to a tongue, 6, which passes through an aperture in the projecting end of the rod E, being secured therein by a pin at the end of the tongue, while the shoulder It prevents the lever passing too far into the slot. The front end of the lever F is provided with a handle, which stands in convenient proximity to the side of the front of the grate A. About midway of its thickness there is secured to the side of the chimney, through which the rod E projects, a plate, H, which stands at right angles to the chimney, and is provided with a T-shaped aperture, I, through which the. lever F passes, the vertical arm of the aperture I being below. For the sake of convenience the lever F is furnished on each side with a guide-slot, m, to direct the movement of the lever when being used in the ver tioal portion of the aperture I, with the width of which the interval of material between the slots at narrowly corresponds.

When it is desired to sift the contents of the grate, the lever F is placed in the transverse arm of the aperture I, and forced backward until the shoulder It comes in contact with the rod E, when the operation can be performed by moving the lever from right to left, and vice versa. If, however, the guide-slots m are not used, it is only necessary to bring the lever into the transverse portion of the aperture, and proceed as above, omitting to force it back upon the rod E.

To dump the grate, the lever F is placed in the vertical portion of the aperture I, when, by working it horizontally, all the material in the grate may readily be thrown upon the hearth, or into any receptacle thereon. As, in the present instance, the guide-slots m are used, it is necessary to draw the lever forward until these slots pass down the sides of the vertical portion of the aperture I. The grate B is retained in its proper and usual position by throwing the lever intoone end of the transverse arm of the aperture I.

It is obvious that the bars I) of the grate B may be constructed in the usual manner; but the inclined form is preferable, as rendering the operation of emptying the grate more easy. Likewise, the ends of the lower bars of the grates A and B may be on a level with and opposite each other, the arrangement shown in the present instance being the preferred, but not the only, method of construction.

By cutting out the portion of the plate H below the end of the vertical portion of the aperture 1, the grate B may be made to describe a large portion of a revolution, thus inverting itself.

The guide-slots m may be dispensed with, the lever being constructed of such width as to work in either the vertical or transverse portion of the aperture I.

It is well known that grates mounted upon shafts, having hearings in each side of the fireplace, have been used, and it is well. known that levers have been used working in shaped slots, and actuating segmental cogs to open and close folding grates, which, 'being provided with Wheels rolling on platforms and attached to the lever, were operable horizontally as sifters.

I do not, however, claim such expedients as my invention; but

What I do claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The combination of the stationary grate A with the movable grate B, attached to the rod E, passing through the loops d, and capable of a lateral and rocking movement by means of the lever F secured to the end of the rod, and extending through the plate H, provided with the T- shaped aperture I, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing improvements in grates, as above described, I have hereunto set my hand and seal.

LUGIEN M. OHIPLEY.

Witnesses:

H. L. WARREN, R. S. HALE. 

